Littleton welcomes two new police officers

Wednesday

Sep 13, 2017 at 2:36 PMSep 13, 2017 at 2:36 PM

Alexander Silva asilva@wickedlocal.com @IndieEagleWL

Selectmen recently appointed two new patrol officers to the Littleton Police Department.

Eric Michel of Shirley and Jared Richard of Fitchburg will join the department, filling the new 19th patrolmen position created in the fiscal year 2018 budget and filling the vacancy created by the resignation of Daniel Devine, who accepted a position with the Massachusetts State Police.

Michel holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Massachusetts Lowell and graduated from the Reading Regional Police Academy in 2004. He previously served as a patrol officer for the Northboro Police Department for approximately nine years.

Richard holds an associate’s degree in criminal justice from Mount Wachusett Community College and recently graduated from the Methuen Police Academy in 2017.

"We have somebody with nine years experience that’s going to bring in his background and everything else from a different department that we can take a look at, see how things are done elsewhere and try and incorporate different things and then we have somebody that’s just starting his career that’s eager to go, eager to be a part of our town," Littleton Police Deputy Chief Jeffrey Patterson said. "I think it’s going to work out real well for us."

Michel and Richard were chosen from a pool of 50 candidates for the two vacant positions.

"I’m very satisfied to go from 50 candidates, down to eight interviews, quite a process for the administration of the department, for you guys to come out and come out on top, kudos to both of you," Board of Selectmen Chairman Chuck DeCoste said.